First losses always hit hard, but Jaime Munguia is not mulling deeply about the past. He tried putting on a show for the fans and endeavored to take out Canelo Alvarez. But his fellow compatriot proved to be a task too uphill. He is not disheartened, though. Instead, the Mexican fighter looks to make some adjustments and push for another title shot in his first fight under the Top Rank banner. Will he be able to do it against a similar hard-hitting fighter in Erik Bazinyan? Or will the effects of the previous loss reel him longer and push him down the pecking order?

The fans will find it out in an encounter that promises thick and fast action, as the two will collide this coming Friday at Desert Diamond Arena on September 20. With the 168-pound division revolving around Alvarez, 34, opportunities to fight for the gold will be few, and it’s a fight that could push either of them on track to the title shot. However, before that happens, let’s have a look at how the two fighters stack up.

Jaime Munguia vs. Erik Bazinyan: tale of tape

Munguia gained fame with his stint with Golden Boy Promotions, as he accumulated an unblemished resume and the WBO title at light middleweight. After finding himself stuck at 160 for a while, he finally moved up to 168, where his debut against Sergiy Derevyanchenko made him a genuine contender. At 27, he is only entering his prime and has ample time to mold himself into a better boxer. What has separated the Tijuana native from the rest is his aggression and his heavy-handed punches.

His record of 43-1 with 34 KOs only adds to his charm, but it’s his KO ratio of 79.07%, which suggests why he is considered one of the best walking specimens among the modern Mexican fighters. In addition, his dimensions aid him in dictating his will on his opponents, as he stands tall at 6’0″ (183 cm). His longer reach of 72″ (183 cm) also allows him to utilize distance. So, it sums up why Munguia has been a tough nut to crack. Will Bazinyan find it hard to cope with whatever Munguia brings to the table?

While Bazinyan is the older of the two at 29, he lacks the experience that Munguia carries. With an undefeated record of 32-0 with 23 KOs, the Canadian boxer has done enough to seize the attention. It has been his fan-friendly style that has helped him muster fanfare and impressed the hierarchy at Top Rank. Bazinyan prefers aggression and has a knack for finishing the fight, as hinted by his KO ratio of 71.88%. What’s more? He carries the size advantage, as he is the natural super middleweight fighter.

The Yerevan native weighed 167.5 lbs (76.0 kg) when he last stood on the scales, compared to Munguia’s 167.4 lbs (75.9 kg). Besides, his height of 6’1″ (185 cm) also gives him an edge over Munguia. It seems Bazinyan and Munguia have equally distributed advantages on the paper. But how will these translate into the real fight?

Prediction: Where will the fight be won?

For Munguia, his fan-friendly style surely stands out. But he also has defensive holes in his play, which Alvarez showed to the world. While the orthodox boxer can adapt and improvise, he is vulnerable on counters. His ring generalship and his recklessness also pop out as his weaknesses. However, Munguia has faced quality opponents with the likes of Sadam Ali and Liam Smith, and he continues to improve his skills. Compared to Munguia, Bazinyan’s resume is thinner, and he lacks experience against top contenders, which makes this fight a tough outing for him.

‘Bzo’s difficulties don’t end here. He barely scraped a split draw against Shakeel Phinn, where his NABF super middleweight title was on the line. That doesn’t take anything away from Bazinyan, who is skilled in switching stances. He is the taller of the two and also carries a longer reach, which he could use to employ jabs. Bazinyan is also good with in-fighting, and therefore, he could pose a significant threat to Munguia. Meanwhile, Munguia is reuniting with Erik Morales and has found his groove at 168. Many will back him to secure the win, and if he does, a fight with Christian Mbilli could be next.

What do you make of this coming fight between Jaime Munguia and Erik Bazinyan? Who do you think will leave the arena as victor? Let us know in the comments below.